Colt May Be The Real McCoy, But The Browns Should Wait To Find Out

When the Cleveland Browns open the 2010 season at Tampa Bay on September 12, they will be sending out their 14th quarterback to start under center since the organization's rebirth in 1999.

In all likelihood, Jake Delhomme will be number 14, and at some point this season, I'm sure we'll see number 15 in former Seattle Seahawk, Seneca Wallace. But hopefully, it doesn't go beyond that, and we're able to put number 16, third round draft pick Colt McCoy, on hold for a little bit. Hopefully, new Team President Mike Holmgren sticks by his original plan and keeps McCoy sheltered safely on the sidelines this season where he can learn and adjust to the NFL game. It's the safest, smartest thing the Browns can do with McCoy.

After all, there's just no need to risk ruining the psyche of a guy that could POSSIBLY develop into the long-awaited franchise quarterback that the Browns so desperately need.

I say possibly because there's a lot to like about McCoy, and many things about him lead me to believe that he could finally be the guy that can provide some stability to the quarterback position down the road for the Browns.

I, for one, truly believe McCoy has the skill set and ability to develop into a solid NFL quarterback.

Most importantly, McCoy's a good thrower, which you obviously have to be if you are to succeed at the quarterback position in the NFL, unless your name is Michael Vick.

McCoy's got a very quick, compact release and he's a highly accurate passer, having completed 70.3 percent of his passes during his college career at Texas.

And he's also a very resourceful passer that can throw the football effectively and accurately from a lot of different angles and while on the run. He may not have the biggest arm, but his accuracy and quick release compensate for this perceived concern.

Overall, in terms of his throwing ability and mechanics, I really believe that McCoy has the makeup to become a pretty solid passer in the NFL.

And he's also a great athlete, which is evident by the fact that he scored 20 rushing touchdowns while in college. In the NFL, McCoy's athleticism will allow him to move around in the pocket and evade the rush.

In college, he displayed his ability to extend plays, which must carry over into the NFL if he is to become a successful pro quarterback. And I think it will once he's able to learn and adjust to the speed of the NFL game.

So McCoy's definitely physically talented and athletically gifted, and that's certainly a start.

However,maybe even more intriguing with McCoy are his intangibles and the mindset he can bring to the huddle.

No matter how you look at it, the guy is a winner, having won a record 45 games as a starting quarterback as a Longhorn. His track record in Austin indicates that he knows how to get it done.

Throw in the fact that McCoy is a tireless worker and fierce competitor that absolutely loves the game of football, and there's just a lot of things to like about the Browns' 85th pick in the draft - and a lot of things that suggest that Colt McCoy (under the right tutelage and in the right atmosphere), could possibly, FINALLY become the franchise quarterback the Browns have sorely been lacking since my favorite Browns' quarterback-turned-drunken announcer (and namesake!), Bernie Kosar.

Let's just hope the Browns wait a year or two before they find out if Colt's the real McCoy, or yet another quarterback failure for the orange and brown. Please, for the sake of sanity and the future of this organization.